Tip #89: Check the cooling system before summer traffic, not on the shoulder
Summer stop-and-go traffic is where weak cooling systems fail. Check the coolant level with the engine cold, look over the hoses, and have a shop inspect the system before the hot months.
Tip #89 in one line
Summer stop-and-go traffic is where weak cooling systems fail. Check the coolant level with the engine cold, look over the hoses, and have a shop inspect the system before the hot months.
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Call nowWhy traffic is the test
At highway speed, air rushes through the radiator. In stopped traffic on a hot afternoon, the car relies on its electric fan, the coolant and the water pump to carry heat away. A low coolant level, a tired fan or a partly blocked radiator often shows up first as a temperature gauge that climbs in traffic and drops again when you get moving.
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Call nowA simple pre-summer check
With the engine cold, look at the coolant reservoir. The level should sit between the marks on the tank. Use the coolant type your owner's manual specifies; mixing types is a common mistake. Look at the hoses for cracks, bulges or soft spots, and look under the car for drips after it has been parked.
Ask your shop to pressure-test the system and check the fan, thermostat and radiator cap. If the coolant is old, ask whether it is due for a change according to the manual.
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Call nowIf the gauge climbs
Turn off the air conditioning and turn the heater to full hot with the fan on high. It is uncomfortable, but it pulls heat away from the engine. If the gauge keeps climbing, or you see steam or a warning light, get off the road somewhere safe and switch the engine off.
Never open the radiator cap or the reservoir on a hot engine. The coolant is under pressure and can spray. Wait until it is cool to the touch, and even then open it slowly with a rag.
An engine that has overheated should not be driven to see if it is fine. Call (908) 444-0129. If you are in a travel lane or on a narrow shoulder, our emergency towing gets the car moved first. A local tow to your shop is quoted before the truck rolls: a flat hook fee plus a per-mile rate, with no night, weekend or holiday surcharges. On the Turnpike or Parkway, the Authority's authorized garages handle the shoulder, and we take the car from the exit or their lot.
Watch the temperature gauge or warning light as a habit, especially in long backups on hot days. Many modern cars do not have a traditional gauge and show only a warning light when the engine is already hot, so learn what your dashboard displays and what the manual says the warning means.
A sweet smell, steam from under the hood, or a puddle of bright green, orange or pink fluid under the car are signs of a coolant leak. Note the color; it helps the shop identify what is leaking.
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Call nowMore on maintenance
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #8: Rinse the salt off the underside, or it will reach your brakes
- Tip #9: Use winter washer fluid and replace streaking wipers before the first storm
- Tip #10: Check coolant only when the engine is cold, and never open a hot radiator
- Tip #88: A brake squeal is a warning, and a grind means stop driving soon
- Tip #91: Cloudy headlight lenses cut your light, so restore or replace them
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- What happens to your car after a police-ordered tow in New Jersey
- All posts
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